TNT closed in on a top finish in Group A play in the PBA Governors' Cup eliminations after repeating over Magnolia with an 84-82 decision Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang Giga and the Hotshots once again engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle, with TNT unleashing a key spurt heading home to take an 82-75 lead before eventually fending off Magnolia to firm up hold of the lead at 7-1.
TNT has Terrafirma and NorthPort as last two assignments in the elims. Just one win will guarantee the Tropang Giga Group A pole position to be pitted versus Group B fourth seed in the best-of-five crossover quarterfinal round.
Magnolia, for its part, dropped to joint third with Converge at 4-4, closely followed by fifth-running NorthPort at 3-5.
The Tropang Giga and the Bolts look headed for a 1-2 finish, with the Hotshots, the FiberXers and the Batang Pier to figure in a wild rumble in the closing games of the elims.
Sponsored content: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson churned out a 29-point, 25-rebound double-double with RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana chipping in 19 and 10 points, respectively, as the Tropang Giga swept the Hotshots in their two elims settos.
Hollis-Jefferson himself was a big key in their endgame blitz to take a seven-point cushion from a one-point edge at 76-75.
It was a tight duel with neither side getting a double-digit spread. TNT's biggest lead was that 82-75 count while the largest gap for Magnolia was at 51-44.
A crucial blow for the Hotshots was Mark Barroca suffering what appeared to be a fractured nose bridge.
The peppery guard from FEU was all over the floor, producing 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal against two turnovers before the accident.
Sponsored content: Shabazz Muhammad had 30 points and 17 rebounds in his second game with the Hotshots.
Paul Lee, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Zavier Lucero added 13, 12 and 10 markers, respectively.(SB)
